Indian Football Association (IFA), the governing body of football in Bengal, has submitted videos of Aryan FC winger Saikat Sarkars remarkable bicycle kick from the ongoing Calcutta Football League to FIFA, vying for the prestigious Puskas Award for the best goal of the year.“We have been showcasing goals on social media, and people loved it, so we decided to send it for Puskas [Awards]. After watching all the previous winning goals, we felt confident to forward it to FIFA,” said Anirban Dutta, Hon. Secretary of the Indian Football Association (IFA), speaking to the news outlet The Indian Express.𝘼𝙗𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 🔥👏🏽Aryan FCs Saikat Sarkar scored a beauty in their Calcutta Football League game against Calcutta Customs Club yesterday 🤯🤩🎥 @IFABengal, InSports TV India 📱 #IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/FEFDUhZlW5— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 20, 2023The IFA officially recommended the goal and also sent a letter to the All India Football Association (AIFF) for their endorsement to the world governing body.For Saikat Sarkar, the bicycle kick goal marked a turning point in his career. After years of dedication and practice on training grounds, the left-wing forwards acrobatic skills finally took centre stage.“I used to practice these shots a lot under my coachs guidance during practice sessions,” Sarkar shared in an interview with The Indian Express.The sensational moment occurred during a match where Sarkars team suffered a 2-1 loss, but his 75th-minute goal stole the spotlight. Rakesh Karmakars precise cross set the stage, and Sarkar executed the acrobatic finish from the edge of the box with aplomb.Son of a gardener, Sarkar faced financial constraints initially, but his fathers determination and coach Biman Mondals guidance fuelled his football dreams. He drew inspiration from football legends like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo – both past Puskas winners – honing his skills through YouTube videos and tutorials.Bicycle goal star Saikat Sarkar hopes to play for ISL, Indian national teamWith his viral goal, Sarkar dreams of representing the Indian national football team and aspires to secure a spot in an Indian Super League (ISL) club.“People are praising me, but I hope to get a chance with an ISL team, but for that, I need to work even harder,” Sarkar said, adding that he hopes to get a contract from an I-League club in the next season.Currently excelling in the CFL 2023, Sarkar has already netted four goals, including a hat-trick in the first match against Police AC at Kalyani.Named after Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas, the Puskas Award recognises the most aesthetically beautiful goal. The award celebrates extraordinary goals, regardless of the level of competition, and showcases undiscovered talents in football. Experts in the sport vote to determine the winner, making it one of the most coveted individual prizes for footballers, alongside the FIFA Ballon dOr.Meanwhile, Aryan Club celebrated Sarkars nomination with a special ceremony, acknowledging his remarkable feat and hoping for his victory in the prestigious award.
